Inhaler.



Patented Aug. 22, i899.

C. H. CURRAN.

' INHALER.

(Applicatiun filed Nov. 16, 1898.)

(N9 Model.)

' UNITED STATES CHARLES H. OU RRA N, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOROF ONE- I PATENT OFFICE.

HALF TO JAMES J. CURRAN, OF SAME PLACE.

INHALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,621, dated August22, 1899. Application filed Novtmher16l1898- memo-696,582- N mbdel-i Toall whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CURRAN, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at I-Iolyoke, in thecounty of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Instruments for Administering MedicinalPreparations by Inhalation, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'to instruments for administering medicinalpreparations to the nasal organs by inhalation, the object being toprovide an inhaler, so called, of improved construction for applying adry powder orliquid remedy, as above stated; and the invention consistsin the peculiar construction of the device as to the details thereof,and particularly to means contained therein, whereby the person usingthe same can graduate the quantity of the medicament or remedy inhaledwhile holding the device to the nose, all as hereinafter described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is alongitudinal section of an inhaler embodying myinvention, the sameillustrating the position thereon of the thumb or finger of the operatorwhile using the same and showing the cover removed. Fig. 2. is alongitudinal section of the exterior case of the instrument and a sideview of the inner movable tube thereof, Fig. 3 is a perspective viewillustrating the position of the'inhaler in the hand during the usethereof and showing the outline of a part of the nose and the nostril ofthe user to which the end of the inhaler is applied.

Referring to the drawings, 2 indicates the case of the inhaler, which ispreferably of metal and of cylindrical tubular form, with the bottom endclosed and'having a concentric bead 5, projecting from the surface ofsaid case 2 near its open end. 7 Between said concentric bead and saidopen end of the case is an air-inlet 6, which is adapted to have thearea of its opening varied while being used, as below set forth, wherebythe quantity of the remedy that shall be discharged from the instrumentis regulated.

3 indicates the inner movable tube of the instrument, which has itsouter end 0 suitably formed and provided with an outlet 10 charging theair therewith.

of cone shape or tapering form to be applied to the nostril of the user,as shown in Fig. 3, wherein B indicates the outline of the nose, and 0of a nostril. Said inner tube has a longitudinal air-conducting groove 7in the side thereof, extending from near its inner or larger open end toa point near its upper end a little beyond said air-inlet in the saidcase, with which groove said air-inlet 6 is normally in communication,and has an air-passage 9 formed in its lower end at the point where saidgroove 7 terminates. The normal operative position of said inner tube insaid case is with its lower end abutting against the inner side of thebottom of said case, so that the sole air communication between said airconducting groove 7 and the interior of said inner tube 3 is throughsaid air-passage 9,

and this being close to the bottom of said case I the air passingtherethrough must act under the remedy and cause the upheaval orvolatilization thereof with the best results as to Just above the upperend of said air-conducting groove 7 in the inner tube 3 is formed adepression S for engaging the finger or thumb therein to aid inwithdrawing said tube from said case for placinga medicinal substance inthe latter. Afcap or cover 4 is provided to be placed over the saidouter end 6 of the inner tube 3 and over the upper end of said case 2,which when so placed abuts against said concentric bead 5, and thuseffectually covers and protects said parts. I

While the Within-described instrument is mainly designed to be used foradministering a dry-powder remedy, (indicated by d in Fig. 1,) itisobvious that many liquid remedies may be successfully applied by itsuse, and especially those which are of a volatile nature.

In using the instrument with either a drypowder or a liquid remedy thesaid air-passage charge of the remedy contained in the instrumentthrough the open end thereof into the nostril of the patient, occasionedby the inhalation by the latter of air into the nostril, which is drawnthrough said inlet and the instrument and takes up on its way the remedyplaced in the latter to a greater or less extent, as desired by theoperator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

An instrument for administering medicinal preparations through the nasalorgans, by inhalation, combining a tubular ease open at one end forreceiving a medicinal substance, having an opening through the sidethereof for the admission of air thereinto, the superficial area ofwhich may be varied by placing the thumb or finger of the user more orless CHARLES II. CURRAN.

Witnesses:

II. A. CHAPIN, K. I. CLEMONS.

